Display counter



P. M. RESSINGER DISPLAY COUNTER Aug. 7, 1951 Filed April 25. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. M. RESSINGER DISPLAY COUNTER Aug. 7, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23. 194'? ltfarrzeys.

Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY COUNTER Paul M. Ressinger, iiighland Park, Ill. Application April 23, 1947, Serial No. 743,384

2 Claims.

My invention relates to display counters, and to structural elements thereof, and has for one object to provide an illuminated display counter and means for assembling it, together with struc tural elements which form the top of the counter, and support and mask for lighting elements therefor.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification.

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the counter;

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the top frame element which serves also as a light-masking means;

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective of one of the structural elements;

Figure 6 is a perspective of another structural element;

Figure '7 is a section similar to Figure 4, showing a modified form; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of another structural element.

Like parts are indicated by like characters in the specification and drawings.

The display counter illustrated in Figure 1 has a rectangular top frame I supported on columns 2,3. The top frame supports a glass panel 4. The columns 2,2 at the front of the counter support not only the frame I, but a front panel 5. The columns 2 and 3 on both ends of the counter support panels 6, and the columns 3,3 at the back of the counter form an aperture for a door 1.

The top frame I is built up of four extruded sections generally indicated at B. These extruded sections have a horizontal body 9 terminating along the inner edge in a downwardly and in wardly inclined flange Ill. Along the outer edge is a thickened portion l I which has an abutment l2 so as to provide both a vertical and a horizontal contact with the top glass panel 4. Downwardly extending from the thickened portion II is a flange I3 having a lug [4 extending inwardly throughout the entire length thereof, toward, but out of contact with, the flange ID. This lug delines a pocket I 5, and the flange I3 is reduced in thickness below the lug M as indicated at IS. The columns 2,2 are merely angles to engage the edges of the glass panels 5 and 6. The columns 3, however, are hollow to enclose conductors for the light elements ll, which are supported by brackets, not here shown since they form no part of the present invention, on the members 8. The reduced portion l6 of the flange I3, together with the lug 14, forms a pocket for the vertical glass panels as shown in Figure 2.

The column 3 is made up of a channel member [8 having one flange I9 wider than the opposite flange 20. The flange i9 has an inwardly extending flange member 2|. Interlocking with the channel I8 is a Z-bar 22 having a flange 23 adapted to be attached to the flange 20 by screws 24. The opposite edge of the Z-bar has a flange 25 in opposition to the flange l9, thus forming a pocket for the edge of the glass panel 6. The door 1, with its outwardly extending flange 26, seats against the columns 3, and electric conductors 28 are contained within the hollow column 3 formed by the assembly of the channel 18 and the Z-bar 22.

In the modified form shown in Figure '7, the column 3! is substituted for the column 3. This column is assembled from the channel 18 with a T-bar 32, the T-bar having a stem 33 which is held by the screws 24 to the flange 20 of the channel Ill. The flange 34 projects inwardly. In this case the door 35 has no outwardly extending flange 26, but the inwardly extending flange 36 engages the flange 34. The other side of the T has a flange 31 in opposition to the flange H) to furnish again a pocket for the glass panel 6.

The structure thus defined is light and durable, may be easily assembled from extruded shapes, may be easily mounted and dismounted, and firmly and accurately holds the glass panels in place, and the widely extended horizontal portions of the elements that form the top frame furnish a mask or shield for the light units so as to prevent upward glare of the lights.

I claim:

'1. In a supporting and corner member for transparent panels, a channel element having a base portion and flanges of unequal length extending in parallel from opposite edges thereof, a Z-bar, one end arm of the Z being secured to the channel flange of minimum length, the opposite arm of the Z-bar extending in parallel with the channel flange of maximum length and constituting, with it, a pocket adapted to receive one edge of the panel.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a spacing element inwardly extending from the channel flange of maximum length, and adapted to engage and position the inwardly penetrating edge of the translucent panel.

PAUL M. RESSINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 634,701 Petz Oct. 10, 1899 1,848,907 Schaffert Mar. 8, 1932 2,336,416 Parker Dec. 7, 1943 

